Sam Hagen of Fordville, N.D., battling for a spot with the Houston Texans
May 11—GRAND FORKS — Early last week, Sam Hagen was helping his dad plant wheat on the family farm near Fordville, N. D. , which is 50 miles northwest of Grand Forks.
By the weekend, Hagen was trying to establish himself at rookie minicamp in the NFL. Hagen, who signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, spent Thursday to Saturday at the Texans' facility in Houston getting adjusted to the challenges of the NFL. "I just wanted my foot in the door and prove to myself what I can do," said Hagen, who played three seasons at North Dakota before finishing his college career at South Dakota State.
"I feel like I have that opportunity now, and it's time to work. " The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Hagen, who's wearing No. 76 in camp, went through action at right tackle.
"Three days of the NFL, and it's very challenging mentally," said Hagen, who's set up in a Houston hotel overlooking the team's workout facility. "The first day you're meeting everyone in the building, then they're throwing a big install at you on Day 1. " Hagen entered NFL Draft weekend told by his agent there was a 50-50 chance of being drafted or signing as an undrafted free agent.
He said about eight teams viewed him as a sixth or seventh round draft grade. At the close of the draft, Hagen learned from his agent he was signing with the Texans. "I told him you guys have the reins to make the deals, so I didn't know of any of the teams contacting me," Hagen said.